American Intelligence: Fighting in Ukraine to slow down in winter months

Fighting in Ukraine has slowed and this is likely to continue in the coming winter months, American intelligence agencies believe.

However, there is no evidence that there is a decline in resistance by Ukrainian forces, said American Intelligence Director Avril Haines.

She said both sides are trying to relaunch, refuel and rebuild” for any counterattack in the spring.

This announcement comes in the wake of Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure.
The war in Ukraine is now in the ninth month, but Russia has lost over half the land it conquered.

Haines said during a California defence forum that most of the fighting is currently being fought around Bahmut in the Ukrainian region of Donjeck.

She said the fighting has slowed following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the West of the Herson region last month.

“We are seeing a reduced pace in conflict... we expect this to likely continue even in the coming months”, she said.

Haines said both the Ukrainian and Russian armies would try to prepare for any possible counteroffensive after the winter.

But, in fact, we have a considerable dose of scepticism if the Russians are willing to do this”, she said. “I'm more optimistic for Ukrainians, based on this” arch.

Hainer said American intelligence believes Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have a full mirror of how much his army is currently being challenged at this stage.

“We see lack of ammunition, moral decline, supply problems, a series of concerns they are facing”.

Russia has begun its unprotested invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. Moscow has been hit with severe sanctions from the West, meanwhile, Kiev is constantly supplied with weapons in order to confront Russian troops.